Humidifier



Mah26, 1929. H. E. SMITH E AL 1,706,904

HUMIDIFIR Filed Deo. 28, 1927 Pateinted Man 26,, 1929.

rren sures PATENT OFFICE.

HUMIDIFJER.

Application filed December 28, 1927; Serial No. 243,128.

This invention relates to a humidifier for use with the heating plants of dwelling bouses, buildings and other structures, and particularly With the smoke outlet pipes of 5 said heating plants.

"lhe inv ention has for its object to provide a simple, highly efiicient, durable and economical humidifier, which can be quickly and easily assembled and installed.

lhe improved humidifier comprises essentially two units, one of Wl1lcll may be designated the humidifier unit and the other the supporting and heating unit.

lhc humidifier unit comprises a liquid con- 15 tainer and aren1ovable cover therefor, which latter is provided with a liquid inlet forthc container and with a valvewhich is supportd by and movable With the said cover and controls said liquid inlet.

In the preferred form, the fiuid inlet valve .is automatically operated by a fioat supported by the cover and movable therewith, and iespondin to variations in the volume of liquid in t e container.

Provision is made for sealing the cover with a liquid seal, as will be described.

Provision is made for rendering the apparatns operatively reliable for a long period of time, as Will be described.

-The heating unit is constructed so as to be insertible into the smoke outlet pipe of the heater and so that the humidifier unit may be used therewith without materially reducing the area of the smoke outlet pipe. l[he heat- 35 ing unit may be provided with a coldair check valve, as vvill be described.

These and other features of this invention will be pointed out in the claiins at the end of this specification.

Fig. 1 represents the improved humidifier in operative positionin the smoke outlet pipe of a heater in a building; l

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal Section of the humidifier shown' in Fig. 1 on a larger scale;

Fig. 3, an enlarged detail t0 illustrate the operation of the fioat-operated Valve;

' Fig. 4, an enlarged detail of the water seal fort-11e eover;

Fig. 5, a sectional view of the valve con- 5 struction shown in Fig. 3, and

- Fig. 6, an end elevation of the heating unit shoWn in Fig. 1. Referring to the drawing a represents a heater of any suitable or usual construction, Whih l1as its smoke outlet pipe connected with the chimney d ofhouse Or building, represented by the floor e thereof.

The smoke outlet pipe Z) has co-operating with it a humidifier embodying this invention and consisting of a humidifier.nnit and upon the upright side and end walls 15 of the container 10. The cover 13 is provided w1th an opening 16 for the passage of liquid mto the container and preferably with a separate opening 17 for the passageof vapor ont of the container.

'lhc cover 13 has inonted on it to form part thereof, a valve casing 20 herein shown as substantially conical in shape and having at its upper end a nipple or extension 21 forming a liquid inlet for the valve casing 20 which is designed to be detachably connected by a coupling 22 With a flexible pipe 23. The valve casing 20 is provided with a bottom member 24 Which covers the opening 16 in the cover 13 and is spot welded or otherwise secured to the latter.

][he casing20 is detachably secured to the bottom member 24 by screws 25 and between the bottom member 24 and the casing is clamped a casting comprising a disk 26 (see Fig. 5) havin upright arms 27 spaced apart and connecte at their upper ends by a head 28.

The cast disk 26 is recessed on its underside to receive a small disk 29 and a larger disk 3(), both of Monel or other rustless metal, and the ;head 28 is also recessed to receive a small disk 31 of like rustless metal.,

The small disks 29, 31 form uides for the stem 32 of a Valve 33, both of' lJIonel or like rustless metal, and the larger disk 30 is provided vvith a port or opening- 34 through Which liquid passes frOm 'the valve casing into the liquid container.

'lhe port 34 is designed to be automatically closed by the valve 33 and to this end the latter is operatively connected to a fioat 35 'within the container. The fioat lever 35 is pivoted at"36 to the lower end of an arm 37 attached to and depending from the bottom member 24 and extended into the liquid con- 5 tainer. Fluid-tight joints are obtained between the cast disk 26 and the valve casing 20 and its bottom member 24 by suitable packing washers 40, 41, (sec Fig. 3).

The valve 33 may be connected with the float lever 35 by a pin 42 having conical ends or centering points which enter conical sockets in the lower end of the valve 33 and in the upper'surface of a lug 43 on the float lever 35.

The lever 35 is suitably. connected at one end t0 a fioat 44 and is provided at,its opposite end with a counterweight 45. The valve 33 is raised to close the port 34 by the float 44, when the desired amount of liquid has been supplied to the container 10, and is opened when the level of the body of liquid has been lowered a given amount.

' The fioat 44 may be confined in a cage or 'casing 46 attached to the underside of the cover, so that the float may be removed from the container with the cover.

The cover 13 may and preferably will be provided below its top wall 47 with a layer 48 of heat-insulating material of any suitable character, such as cork, felt or the like.

The cover 13 is preferably made as herein 'shown and is provided with the outer sheet metal plate 47 having side and end w alls 49 and an inner sheet metal plate 50 separated from the outer plate 47 by a space which is filled with the insulating material 48.

" The inner metal plate 50 is spot weldcd, riveted or otherwise secuxed to the side and end walls 49 of the cover, andis preterably provided with depending side and end walls or flanges 52 whichproject below the bottom of the side and end Walls 49 otfthe cover a material distance and sufliciently to form a sealing member or skirt, which extends below the surface of the body of liquid 12 in the container at all times and co-operates with the side and end walls 15 of the container to forma liquid seal 54f0r the joint between the cover and the container, as clearly represented in Figs. 2 and 4, wherein it Will be seen that the joint between the outwardly extendedflanges 14 on the cover and the outwardly extended flange 55. on the side and end Walls 15 of the container is out ofi' from the 55 vapor space 56 on the container by a column ot li uid between the skirt 52 on the cover and t le side and end walls 15 of the container.

The liquid seal for the cover avoids the use Cal v of gaskets between the cover and the con-i 60 tainer and the liability of leaks attending 'their'use due to distortion' by :heat under conditions of use.

The outer and inner sheet metal plates of the cover are connected by copper sleeves or bushings 60, 61 0f relatively large diameter with one of which as 60, the valve casing 20 co-operates, and with the other 61 of which co-operates a vapor outlet 62 prcfcrably made of woven hose having at 1ts lower end a nipple 63 which is inserted into and makcs a fluid-tight fit with the slceve or bushing 61, and is provided at its upper end with a metal disk 64 having an opening co-operating with the.hose 62 and covered by a metal plate 65, which is secured to the metal disk by bolts 66 or in any other snitable manner and is separated therefrom to leave lateral opcnings through which vap or is distributcd into the rooni above the floor 6.

From the above description, it Will be observed that the humidifier unit complote in every respect and comprising the liquid container, the cover therefor provided with the valve caSing, with the float for opcrating tire valve and having the vapor outlet pipe 62, can be assembled in the shop and transported as one piece to the place whcre it is to be installed, and could be applied to the smoke outlet pipe of any heater. A

It is, however, preferred to provide a heating unit of special construction, which can be shipped with the humidifier unit and sub stituted for a section of the smoke outlet pipe at the place of installation. The heating unit preferred consists of a sheet metal body portion 70 and cast end members 71.

Each cast end member 71 is made as a substantially U shaped plate having a substantiallystraight upper edge 72, a curved bottom 73 and straight sides 74 (sec Fig. 6)

The plate or member 71 is provided with a circular opening 740 from which projects outwardly a circular flange 75 and from which extends inwardl a flange 76 of the same shape as the plate and having a groove or channcl 77 (see Fig. 2) for the reception of the end of the sheet metal body portion 70, Whose end portions are shaped t0 corrcspond to the end'members 71.

The sheet metal body portion 70 has its ends inserted into the channel or groove 77 in the inner fiange 76 and is boltcd or otherwise securd to said inner flange.

The body portion 70 is provided with a substantially fiat top wall 80 which is provided with an elongated opening 81 having an end and side walls 82, 83 extended above the top Wall 80 a substantial distance and prferably a little less than the depth of the liquid container 10, so that when the latter is inserted into the opening 81 in the top wall of the body portion 70, the container will pro ject but a short distance into the body portion, so as to offer a minimum obstruction to the passage et the gases through the body portion and yet project sufficiently to be offectively heated by said gases, and also to facilitate removal of the cover from the container without disconnecting the fluid inlct pipe 23 or the vapor outlet pipe 62.

' copper, with the water pipe 123 of the build- 1 The sheet metal body portion 70 is also preferably provided with an opening 85 in its curved bottom, with.vvhich cooperates a cOld air check valve or damper 86 piVoted t0 a cast frarhe 87 secured to the sheet metal body portion, and arrzinged with respect to the opening 85 so that the check damper 86 is arranged to open inwardly into the body portion 70 (see Fig. 2).

It will be seen that a heater Unit of the construction described constitutes a casing in which the humidifier unit is supported and enables the latter and the c0ld air check to be assembled and shipped to the job as one piece ready to be installed in the smoke outlet pipe of the heater, and requirin g only con nection of the flexible pipe 23, preferably of ing and the leading of the vapor outlet pipe 62 through the floor 6 of the building, thereby enabling the cost of installation to be' reduced to a minimum. The valve casing 20 will preferably have located in it a strainer 91 for the water supplied to the liquid container.

l[he valve stem 32 is provided with a removable pin 92 Which engagea the disk 31 and retains the valve connected with thesupporting disk 26, in case the latter is removed from the casing 20.

.Th valve 33 and its stem 32 and the guid ing disks 29, 31 and the disk 34 f0rming'the valve scat, being of Monel or rustless metal, ensures rel1able operatmn under long per1ods of use. The disks 29, 30 form a chamber 95 into which the water passes from the valve cas1ng 20 through the ports or openings 96 in the disk 26 and from Which the water ically disconnected from the liquid container,

and yet provide a liquid-tight joint between the cover and the container.

'llhis is; particularly advantageous when the humldifier is used in those localities in which the water contaihsrelatively large the moving parts of the apparatus.

It is also advantageous in case the liquid container after beinginstalled in service should be burnt out, as mightoccur in case the Water supply valve should be closed and failed to open again. Under such conditions the cover 13 can be lifted from-the liquid container and moved to one side sufiiciently to permit the liquid container to be removed from the pipe section or heating unit and cleaned or replaced With a new container; the cover at such time being suspended bythe flexible pipes 23, 62.

When the liquid container has been replacedn the heating unit, the cover can be moved loack into the container and the humidifier unit restored to its operative condition.

The services of a plmber are not required for this work.

It will also be observed that the valve casing 20 is filled With water in Which the valve stem 32 moves and is lubricated by the water which also protects the stem from the heat in the vapor space 56 of the humidifier and thereby prevents the lime and the like being deposited on the valve stem and its guides, Which would interiere with the free movement of the valve and render the apparatus less sensitive.

A prcferred construction of the invention is hereinshown and described but it is not desired to liinit the invention to the particular construction shown.

What is claimed is: 1. The combination with a heater unit provided with endopenings and with a body por tion et greater area in cross section than said end opening and provided with an elongated opening in its top wall, of a humidifier unit having a liquid container fbrming a" closure slightly below the top wall of said body portion, and a cover for said liquid container provided with a liquid inlet valve and with a vap0r outlet port.

, 2. A humidifier of the character described comprising a casing open at its ends for connection with a smoke outlt pipe and provided With an intermediate opening in its body portion, a liquid container inserted into said casing through said intermediate opening and forming a closure for the latter, and a cover for said container provided With a liquid inlet valve casing, and with a vapor outlet, a liquid inlet valve carried by the cover for said container, and a fioat in said liquid container carried by said cover and connected with said inlet valve to operate the same.

3. A humidifier of the character described c01i1prising a casing open at its. ends for con nection With a smoke outlet pipe and provided with an intermediate opening in its body pormember for said intermediate opening, and a cover for said liquid container provided with a liquid inlet valveand with a vapor outlet.

. 4. A humidifier of the character described comprising a casing open at its ends for con nection with a smoke outlet pipe and provided with an intermediate opening in its body-portion, a liquid container forming closure member for said intermediate open ing, a cover for said liquid container provided With a liquid inlet valve and with a vapor n'utlet, and with means extended into the liquid container to co-oprate with the Walls thereof and form with a portion of the liquid in the container a liquid seal for said cover.

5. The combination with a heater unit comprising substantially Ushaped cast end plates provided With circular openings and Wh' fiat and provided with an elongated opening Whose Walls exte'nd above said top plate, of a humidifier unitsupp0rted by thewallsof the opening in 'said top plate and extended.

into said bodylportion but slightly beloiv said top wall.

6. A humidifier of the character described comprising a casing open at its ends for connection with a smoke outlet pipe and provided with an intermediate opening, a liquid con'- 2 tainer forming a elosre for said intermediate opening and supported by said casing, and a cover for said liquid container provided with a sealing member co-operating with the liquid in the container to form a liquid seal for the joint between the cov*er and said liquid contamer.

7. The combination with a heater unit provided with end openings and with a body porv tion provided with an openihg intermediate its' ends, of a removable closure meinbr for said intermedinte opening comprising a buinidifier unit provided with a liquid contain er insertible into and removable from the heater unit through said intermediate Opening, a cover for said liquid container, a liquid inlet Valve, a fioat operatively connected with said inlet valve, and a vapor.outlet for said liquid container, said li nid inlet valve and flo,at being associatedwith said liquid contamer to be moved therewith with relation to said heater unit.

8. The combination With a heater unit provided With an opening, of a removable closure member for said o ening comprising a numidifier until provic ed with a liquid container insertible into and removable from the heater unitthrough said opening, acover for said liquid container, a liquid inlet valve, a float operatively connected with said inlet valve, and a vapor outlet for,said liquid container,

said liquid inlet valve and float being asso- -c'ziated with said liquid container to be moved therewith .with relation to said heater unit. 9. The eombination with a heater unit provided with an openingin its upper surface, a liquid container open at its top and inserted into the opening in said heater unit and provided With a flange-overlying and supported by the walls of the said opening, a cover for said liquid container supported thereby and movable therewith and provided with a vapor outlet, and a liquid inlet valve controlling the admission of liquid intdsaid liquid container and movable therewith With relation to said [mater unit.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

HERBEET E. SMITH. ARTHUR W. SMITH. 

